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Monitor: Difference between revisions

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{{Era|Forerunner|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW|Post|IRIS}}
{{Era|Forerunner|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW|Post|IRIS}}
{{Ratings}}
{{Forerunner Infobox
{{Forerunner Infobox
|name= Monitor
|name= Monitor
|image= [[File:343.JPG|250px]]
|image= [[File:343.JPG|250px]]
|aprox. size=
|role= Oversee functions on Halos and other installations; provide security on Forerunner capital
|purpose= Oversee functions on their [[Halo Array|Halo Installation]]
|first seen= [[Halo: Combat Evolved]]
|strength=
|size=  
|first seen= [[Alpha Halo]], [[2552]]
|length=
|primary= Monitor Laser Weapon
|width=
|secondary= Small Beam for unlocking doors and repairing systems.
|height=
|weaponry strength= Extreme
|armament=
|other abilities= Use teleportation grid, Access Installation database, Command Sentinels, Influence computer systems.
*Pulse weapon
|defense= Extremely strong casing, advanced energy shield capable of repelling all conventional weaponry.
*Small beam for unlocking doors and repairing systems
|armor=Extremely strong casing; advanced energy shield capable of repelling all conventional weaponry.
|misc3-title=Other abilities
|misc3=Use teleportation grid; access database; command Sentinels; influence computer systems.
}}
}}
'''Monitors''' are highly advanced [[artificial intelligence]] constructs, or [[ancilla]]s, created by the [[Forerunner]]s well over 125,000 years ago to occupy special positions in Forerunner society. Some monitors are tasked with servicing and maintaining the [[Halo Array|Halo installations]] and ensuring that the virulent [[Flood]] stay imprisoned. Other monitors oversee the maintenance and function of [[Line Installation 1-4|Line installations]]. Still others were used to provide security on the Forerunner [[capital]]<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page ???''</ref> and a limited number were used in combat by [[Warrior-Servant]]s.<ref name="Cryptum 255-6">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 255-256''</ref> Monitors are extremely intelligent, yet are completely devoted to their original function, and are zealous about containing Flood; monitors have been known to turn violently on their allies if they should attempt to violate their containment protocols. The [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] refer to monitors as '''Oracles'''; they revere the "Oracles" for their wisdom and believe that they are key to the fulfillment of the [[Covenant religion|Great Journey]].


The '''Monitors''' are highly advanced [[Artificial Intelligence]] constructs created by the [[Forerunners]] 100,000 years ago to occupy special positions in Forerunner society. One of their main purposes was to service and maintain the [[Halo Array|Halo]] installations and to ensure that the virulent [[Flood]] remain imprisoned. Other purposes include the maintenance of [[Line Installation 1-4|Line Installations]]. Monitors are extremely intelligent, yet completely devoted to their original function, and are zealous about containing Flood; Monitors have been known to violently turn on their allies if they should attempt to violate their containment protocols.
==Appearance==
A monitor's body consists of a roughly spherical shape that is concave on three sides, with an illuminated photoreceptor located on the front of the orb. A monitor's silvery metal covering is reminiscent of other Forerunner constructs, though their spherical shapes stand in contrast to the polygonal, angular shapes commonly seen in other Forerunner creations.


The [[Covenant]] refer to the Monitors as '''Oracles'''. Individual [[human]]s appear to use whatever names they deem appropriate; [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Junior Johnson|Avery Johnson]] has referred to the Monitor [[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|343 Guilty Spark]] as "light bulb", "tinker bell", and "robot", and the [[Master Chief]] simply shortened his name to "Spark".<ref name="ark-cutscene">''[[Halo 3]]'', [[The Ark (level)|The Ark]] ([[cutscene]])</ref>
Monitors' photoreceptors vary in color, including blue, red, and green.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page ???''</ref> However, some, if not all monitors' photoreceptors can vary in color; for example, [[343 Guilty Spark]]'s photoreceptor was generally blue, though it turned red when he was in a combative state. [[2401 Penitent Tangent]]'s and [[686 Ebullient Prism]]'s  photoreceptors were perpetually red, despite no evidence of combat-related behavior.<ref>'''Halo 2''', level ''[[Backwash]]''</ref> [[The Warden]]'s photoreceptor was dull green.<ref name="Cryptum 255-6"/>


== Appearance ==
343 Guilty Spark and 2401 Penitent Tangent both possessed high-pitched, tinny voices, though it is unknown whether this is characteristic of all monitors.
The body of a Monitor consists of a roughly spherical shape, concave on three sides, with an illuminated photoreceptor (an eye) located on the "front" of the orb. A Monitor's silvery metal covering is reminiscent of other Forerunner constructs, though their spherical shapes are a sharp contrast to the polygonal, angular shapes commonly seen in other Forerunner creations. The two Monitors seen so far speak in a tinny, but level, male voice.


Monitors' eyes are branded with the [[Marathon]] symbol and tend to have a variable hue; 343 Guilty Spark's eye color is blue, though it has changed to red during moments of what appear to be [[rampancy]]; 2401 Penitent Tangent's eye color is perpetually red despite no evidence of combat-related behavior other than his proximity to a [[Gravemind form]]. Whether eye colors vary between Monitors, between their action- or emotional states, or both, is unknown.
==Function and behavior==
[[File:PT2401.JPG|thumb|left|200px|2401 Penitent Tangent.]]
Each Halo installation has at least one monitor assigned to it, which oversees all operations on the ring. [[Line Installation 1-4]] had only one known monitor, 686 Ebullient Prism. Numerous monitors were used to provide security for the Forerunners' [[Capital Court]]. Monitors were sometimes used in combat by Warrior-Servants.<ref name="Cryptum 255-6"/> [[The Warden]] was a venerable monitor that was used to both detain accused criminals and to defend them in court.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', page 297</ref>


== Functioning and Behavior ==
Most known monitors are identified by a series of numbers followed by a name. The monitors of the Halo installations have identification numbers comprised of [[List of "seven" references in Halo|seven]] raised to the power of the monitor's installation's number minus one (7<sup>n-1</sup>). The names appear to consist of an adjective describing a negative emotion followed by a technological term. In Forerunner [[Terminals|communication logs]], Halo monitors are identified by their installation's number, a dash, and their own number; for example, 343 Guilty Spark, the monitor of [[Installation 04]], is identified on such logs as "04-343."
[[File:PT2401.JPG|thumb|left|200px|[[2401 Penitent Tangent]].]]
Each Halo Installation has at least one Monitor assigned to it, with [[Installation 05]] having two: [[2401 Penitent Tangent]], and a large Monitor on a monorail, seen in ''Halo 3''<nowiki/>'s [[Cold Storage (Level)|Cold Storage]].


Monitors have both numbers (presumably for identification) and names. A Monitor's identification number appears to be [[7]] raised to the power of the Monitor's Installation number minus one. The names appear to consist of an adjective describing a negative emotion followed by a technological term, though neither of the two names seen appear to have any specific meaning. In Forerunner [[Terminals|communication logs]], Monitors are identified by their Installation number (padded to two digits), a dash, and their own number; for example, [[343 Guilty Spark]], Monitor of [[Installation 04]], is identified on such logs as "04-343."
Each Halo's monitor commands the [[Sentinel]]s, [[Sentinel Majors]], [[Enforcers]], and [[Constructor]]s of the installation they oversee.<ref name="CE">'''Halo: Combat Evolved'''</ref> The latter two are only activated if a catastrophic Flood outbreak occurs. The only known monitor of a Line installation, 686 Ebullient Prism, also commanded its installation's [[Gatherer]]s.<ref name="Blood Line">'''Halo: Blood Line'''</ref>


Each Monitor commands the [[Constructors]], [[Sentinels]], [[Sentinel Majors]], and [[Enforcers]] of the Installation they monitor.<ref name="CE">[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]</ref> The latter two are only activated if a catastrophic outbreak occurs, to hold back the Flood, while the Monitor locates a [[Reclaimer]].
Monitors are extremely intelligent, but are also devoted to their original functions and to protocol; this results in a zealous attitude toward containment of the Flood and, in the case of Halo installations' monitors, an overeagerness to activate the Halo Array. Monitors frequently cite protocols as explanations for their actions, no matter how impractical; this has been known to confuse or annoy human and Covenant forces who have interacted with them. It is possible that a Halo's monitor sees its protocols as the ''only'' options in a situation; during the [[Battle of Installation 04]], 343 Guilty Spark could have taken numerous precautions to prevent the Flood from spreading across the installation, but the only action he ever considered was the activation of the Halo.<ref group="note">This behavior may also have been due to 343 Guilty Spark's rampancy. The monitor may have been oblivious to all possible options that did not follow protocol -- the Halo's activation may have been the only solution that ever even occurred to him -- and he might have been willfully ignoring other solutions.</ref> During the [[Battle of Line Installation 1-4]], 686 Ebullient Prism frequently informed his human and Covenant prisoners that they would be killed and dissected in an effort to find immunity to the Flood, showing no concern for the subjects' well-being.<ref name="Blood Line"/> The monitors' adherence to protocol is also shown in their seemingly standardized method of introducing themselves: "Greetings. I am [Number] [Name]. I am the monitor of Installation [Number]."<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved''', campaign level, ''[[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]]'': "Greetings. I am the monitor of Installation 04. I am 343 Guilty Spark."</ref><ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]'': "Greetings. I am 2401 Penitent Tangent. I am the monitor of Installation 05."</ref><ref>'''Halo: Blood Line''': "Greetings. I am the monitor of Line Installation 1-4. I am 686 Ebullient Prism."</ref>


Monitors are extremely intelligent, but are also devoted to their original functions and to protocol, resulting in (among other things) a zealous attitude toward containment of the Flood and an overeagerness to activate the Halos. Monitors frequently cite protocols as explanations for their actions, no matter how impractical; this has been known to confuse or annoy modern-day [[Human|Humans]] who have interacted with them. It is possible that a Monitor sees their protocols as the ''only'' options in a situation; in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', 343 Guilty Spark could have taken numerous precautions to prevent the Flood from spreading across the Installation, but the only action he ever considered was the activation of the Halo.<ref group="note">This behavior may also have been due to 343 Guilty Spark's possible rampancy. The Monitor may have literally been oblivious to all possible options that didn't follow protocol -- the Halo's activation may have been the only solution that ever even occurred to him -- and might not have been willfully ignoring other solutions.</ref>
Similarly to a human [[Artificial intelligence#"Dumb" AI|"dumb" AI]], monitors seem to have nearly limitless information of their own expertise, yet apparently lack information that does not pertain to their defined purpose. During the Battle of Installation 04, and later on [[Installation 04B]], 343 Guilty Spark seemingly addressed [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN]] [[John-117]] as [[the Didact]].<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved''', campaign level ''[[Two Betrayals]]''</ref><ref name="The Ark">'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Ark]]''</ref>


Nearly every action taken by a Monitor is based on some sort of protocol; even their greetings appear to be standardized. Of the two Monitors seen in the ''Halo'' series, both have introduced themselves as follows: "Greetings. I am [Number] [Name]. I am the Monitor of Installation [Number]."<ref>''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'': [[343 Guilty Spark (Level)|343 Guilty Spark]] ([[cutscene]]). "Greetings. I am the Monitor of Installation 04. I am 343 Guilty Spark."</ref><ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', [[Gravemind (Level)|Gravemind]] ([[cutscene]]). "Greetings. I am 2401 Penitent Tangent. I am the Monitor of Installation 05."</ref> The only variation seen is the occasional reversal of the latter two sentences.
==Features==
Monitors have a remarkable resistance to small arms fire, though they will eventually succumb after taking extensive damage. On [[Installation 04B]], John-117 was able to destroy 343 Guilty Spark only with multiple discharges from a [[M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle|Spartan Laser]], - a weapon that can destroy tanks with a single discharge - demonstrating that monitors can sustain damage from high-powered weaponry. During the Battle of Line Installation 1-4, [[Reff 'Talamee]] severely damaged 686 Ebullient Prism's photoreceptor and casing with a [[Sentinel Beam|Sentinel's weapon]]; the monitor was eventually destroyed by its installation's main weapon.<ref name="Blood Line"/> Should a monitor be damaged, it is capable of self-repair.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 238''</ref>


Though a Monitor's knowledge of its own Installation is seemingly limitless, Monitors' knowledge is otherwise quite limited. In particular, 343 Guilty Spark does not appear to be able to distinguish between different Reclaimers until the events of Halo 2 <ref>"'''This''' Reclaimer is delicate." 343 Guilty Spark, emphasis added</ref>,<ref group="note">There have been multiple instances throughout the series in which 343 Guilty Spark has made various such mistakes; among other things, he once addressed the Master Chief as if he were [[Didact]], and he was baffled when Reclaimers Avery Johnson and [[Miranda Keyes]] expressed a lack of knowledge of protocol and [[The Ark]]. Whether this is a default behavior of Monitors or the result of Spark's apparent [[rampancy]], however, is unknown.</ref> and the construct has admitted to a lack of knowledge about other Installations, and it can be assumed that the Forerunners practiced this compartmentalization of information with the other Monitors as well.<ref name="ark-cutscene"/>
Though monitors are assisted by other constructs in the event of a Flood outbreak, the monitors also have their own offensive capabilities. Their primary armament is a red-colored pulse beam that capable of depleting the shields of a [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|Mark VI MJOLNIR armor suit]] in a single blast, as well as mortally wounding a less well-armored human.<ref name="halo-cutscene">'''Halo 3''', campaign level, ''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]''</ref> This weapon can also kill a [[Flood combat form]] almost instantaneously.<ref name="Floodgate">'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Floodgate]]''</ref>


Monitors keep daily logs of all things that occur on their Installation. As with [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] AI, the Monitors have been speculated to be in stages of [[Rampancy]] -- a condition that affects human [["Smart" AI]]s and is comparable to insanity—due to their isolation for literally a hundred thousand years.
Monitors also possess two types of utility beams. One of these beams allows a monitor to manipulate and levitate objects.<ref name="Floodgate"/> The second is a blue beam that can unlock doors Forerunner installations.<ref name="The Ark"/>


Monitors have the ability to teleport themselves and others around their installations, likely through manipulation of [[slipstream space]]. It seems that a monitor on an installation other than its own has no access to that installation's [[teleportation grid]]. It is possible that these limits are programmatic rather than physical; after hacking into [[the Core]] of Installation 04, the UNSC AI [[Cortana]] gained the ability to access the teleportation grids of all installations, though her inability to access the power grids restricted her usage of the grid.{{Citation needed}}


== Features ==
==Known monitors and their assignments==
Monitors seem to have a defensive resistance to small arms fire, though they will eventually succumb after taking extensive damage. In the novel, ''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', [[John-117|Master Chief]] fired half a magazine from an [[MA5B Assault Rifle]] at 343 Guilty Spark with no apparent effect; on [[Installation 04B]], the Master Chief was only able to destroy the Monitor with four blasts from a [[Spartan Laser]], demonstrating that Monitors can sustain damage from high power weaponry. By comparison, a Spartan Laser can destroy virtually any other object in two shots or less. Should a Monitor be damaged, it is capable of self-repair.<ref>[[Halo: The Flood]] page 238</ref>
{{Monitors}}
*[[343 Guilty Spark]] - [[Installation 04]], later [[Installation 04B]]
*[[2401 Penitent Tangent]] - [[Installation 05]]
*[[686 Ebullient Prism]] - [[Line Installation 1-4]]
*[[The Warden]] - Detained and provided defense for Forerunners accused of crime before the [[Capital Court]]


Though Monitors are assisted by other constructs in the event of a Flood outbreak, the Monitors also have their own offensive capabilities, including three types of beams. The first beam allows a Monitor to manipulate and levitate objects<ref name="floodgate-cutscene">''[[Halo 3]]'', [[Floodgate (Level)|Floodgate]] ([[cutscene]])</ref>; the second beam is a red-colored beam capable of depleting the shields of a [[Spartan-II]] in [[MJOLNIR]] Mark VI armor in a single blast and mortally wounding a less-armored human<ref name="halo-cutscene">''[[Halo 3]]'', [[Halo (Halo 3 Level)|Halo]] ([[cutscene]])</ref>; and the third is a blue beam that is primarily meant for unlocking doors on Forerunner structures, but that can also inflict minor damage upon targets.<ref name="ark-cutscene"/>
== Trivia ==
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo 3'', monitors' eyes are branded with the [[List of Marathon references in Halo|''Marathon'' symbol]].
*During the cinematic commentary on the ''[[Halo 3 Essentials]]'' DVD, [[Martin O'Donnell]], [[Jason Jones]], and [[Joseph Staten]] jokingly referred to the monitor of [[Installation 01]] as ''"7 Broken [[Wikipedia:iPod|iPod]]"'' and the monitor of [[Installation 07]] 49 as ''"49 Fucking Lightbulb"''.
*A monitor Avatar prop is unlockable on [[Xbox LIVE]] upon downloading [[Halo Waypoint]].<ref>[http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=948462 '''Halo.bungie.org:''' ''My writeup / tour of Waypoint. (NSF56k)'']</ref>.
*In [[Forge]], one can turn into a monitor by pressing up on the D-Pad.


Monitors have the ability to teleport themselves and others around their Installations. It is unclear exactly how this teleportation works, but it seems that a Monitor on an Installation other than its own has no access to that Installation's [[Teleportation Grid|transportation grid]]. It is possible that these limits are programmatic rather than physical; after hacking into [[The Core]] of a Halo, the human AI [[Cortana]] gained the ability to access the teleportation grids of all Installations, though her inability to access the power grids restricted her usage of the grid.<ref name="h2">''[[Halo 2]]''</ref> In ''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', [[Dr. Halsey]] comments that [[Onyx]]'s teleportation matrix is powered by a [[Slipspace]] generator of some sort; the Monitors may use similar technology when teleporting.
==List of appearances==
 
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' {{1st}}
== Known Monitors ==
*''[[Halo 2]]''
{{Monitors}}
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*[[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|343 Guilty Spark]] ([[Installation 04]])
*''[[Halo: Reach]]'' {{C|Non-canonical appearance}}
*[[2401 Penitent Tangent]] ([[Installation 05]])
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
**[[Cold Storage Monitor]] ([[Installation 05]])
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
*[[686 Ebullient Prism]] ([[Line Installation 1-4]])
**''[[The Return]]'' {{C|Motion comic only}}
*[[The Knowing]] (Ariel Forerunner Relic)
*''[[The Forerunner Saga]]''
*[[05-032 Mendicant Bias]] (Kill [[Gravemind]])
**''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''
*[[Offensive Bias]] (Defeat [[Rampancy|Rampant]] [[Mendicant|Mendicant Bias]])
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*[[Unnamed Forerunner AI]] ([[Shield World (Halo Wars)|Flood-Controlled Shield World]])
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
== Trivia ==
**''[[Origins]]''
*When the numbers of each Monitor are examined, a pattern emerges: each seems to be [[List of "Seven" references in Halo|seven]] raised to the power of the Installation number minus one; therefore this grid can be founded. (7<sup>n-1</sup>=Monitor Number ''if n=The Installation's number''.)
*On the level [[The Ark]], if you start at the second Rally Point and you betray all the Marines, Guilty Spark will fire his laser at you. Even on Easy difficulty, the laser is an instant kill. However, on the final level when you are supposed to kill him, his laser does not do significant, let alone immediately fatal, damage. This is likely for gameplay reasons and to discourage betrayal.
*A Monitors' eyes are branded with the [[List of Marathon references in Halo|Marathon symbol]].
*If you look closely in [[Halo: Reach]], in Theater mode, you will see that the parts of a Monitor are not actually connected.
*It is revealed in ''[[Halo 3]]'' that the Monitors, or at least 343 Guilty Spark, have offensive capabilities very similar to that of a [[Sentinel]], and can stun or immediately kill an opponent. 343 Guilty Spark primarily utilized this ability on two occasions in that game: once to destroy a Flood Combat Form that was about to attack Master Chief; and later to fight the Chief and the [[Arbiter (Character)|Arbiter]] after mortally wounding [[Sergeant Johnson]]. 343 Guilty Spark may also use the effective beam on the level, [[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]; when the player joins the Arbiter after defeating the two [[Scarab]]s, 343 Guilty Spark may fire at any enemy that gets too close to the bridge. He will also use it when the player kills too many Marines and causes all allies to shoot at the player.
*The voice effect can be achieved by flanging, a technique often used for electric guitar.
*In the multiplayer map [[Cold Storage]], [[Cold Storage Monitor|a large Monitor]] can be seen embedded in the ceiling which follows your movements, as long as you are in the same room as it. It appears to be attached to a monorail, though it never uses it.
*On [[Halo 3 Legendary Edition]], [[Martin O'Donnell]], [[Jason Jones]] and [[Joseph Staten]] jokingly referred to Monitor [[7]] as ''"7 Broken [[Wikipedia:iPod|iPod]]"'' and 49 as ''"49 Fucking Lightbulb"''.{{Citation needed}} <!-- Talk Page says it might be in H3 Legendary Edition DVD. -->
*A Monitor prop is unlockable for your Avatar on [[Xbox LIVE]] upon downloading [[Halo Waypoint]]<ref>http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=948462</ref>.
*In [[Forge]] Mode, one can turn into a Monitor by hitting up on the D-Pad.
*In ''Halo: Reach'''s Forge Monitor appears to have a small thruster on its rear section, which glows when moving forward.
* As a forge monitor, if moving, you will hear a slight jingling noise of bells.
* If the button for switching from Monitor to player is pressed repeatedly in [[Halo: Reach]], the icon for the Focus Rifle will be seen in the Primary Weapon slot when in Monitor mode.


==Appearances==
{{Appearances|Halo: Combat Evolved|Halo 2|Halo 3|Halo Wars|Halo Reach|Halo: The Flood|Halo: Contact Harvest|Halo Evolutions|Halo: Helljumper|Halo Legends}}
==Notes==
==Notes==
<references group="note"/>
<references group="note"/>
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[[Category:The Forerunner]]
[[Category:The Forerunner]]
[[Category:Forerunner technology]]
[[Category:Forerunner technology]]
[[Category:Forerunner A.I.]]

Revision as of 07:49, May 21, 2011

Template:Forerunner Infobox Monitors are highly advanced artificial intelligence constructs, or ancillas, created by the Forerunners well over 125,000 years ago to occupy special positions in Forerunner society. Some monitors are tasked with servicing and maintaining the Halo installations and ensuring that the virulent Flood stay imprisoned. Other monitors oversee the maintenance and function of Line installations. Still others were used to provide security on the Forerunner capital[1] and a limited number were used in combat by Warrior-Servants.[2] Monitors are extremely intelligent, yet are completely devoted to their original function, and are zealous about containing Flood; monitors have been known to turn violently on their allies if they should attempt to violate their containment protocols. The Covenant refer to monitors as Oracles; they revere the "Oracles" for their wisdom and believe that they are key to the fulfillment of the Great Journey.

Appearance

A monitor's body consists of a roughly spherical shape that is concave on three sides, with an illuminated photoreceptor located on the front of the orb. A monitor's silvery metal covering is reminiscent of other Forerunner constructs, though their spherical shapes stand in contrast to the polygonal, angular shapes commonly seen in other Forerunner creations.

Monitors' photoreceptors vary in color, including blue, red, and green.[3] However, some, if not all monitors' photoreceptors can vary in color; for example, 343 Guilty Spark's photoreceptor was generally blue, though it turned red when he was in a combative state. 2401 Penitent Tangent's and 686 Ebullient Prism's photoreceptors were perpetually red, despite no evidence of combat-related behavior.[4] The Warden's photoreceptor was dull green.[2]

343 Guilty Spark and 2401 Penitent Tangent both possessed high-pitched, tinny voices, though it is unknown whether this is characteristic of all monitors.

Function and behavior

2401 Penitent Tangent.

Each Halo installation has at least one monitor assigned to it, which oversees all operations on the ring. Line Installation 1-4 had only one known monitor, 686 Ebullient Prism. Numerous monitors were used to provide security for the Forerunners' Capital Court. Monitors were sometimes used in combat by Warrior-Servants.[2] The Warden was a venerable monitor that was used to both detain accused criminals and to defend them in court.[5]

Most known monitors are identified by a series of numbers followed by a name. The monitors of the Halo installations have identification numbers comprised of seven raised to the power of the monitor's installation's number minus one (7n-1). The names appear to consist of an adjective describing a negative emotion followed by a technological term. In Forerunner communication logs, Halo monitors are identified by their installation's number, a dash, and their own number; for example, 343 Guilty Spark, the monitor of Installation 04, is identified on such logs as "04-343."

Each Halo's monitor commands the Sentinels, Sentinel Majors, Enforcers, and Constructors of the installation they oversee.[6] The latter two are only activated if a catastrophic Flood outbreak occurs. The only known monitor of a Line installation, 686 Ebullient Prism, also commanded its installation's Gatherers.[7]

Monitors are extremely intelligent, but are also devoted to their original functions and to protocol; this results in a zealous attitude toward containment of the Flood and, in the case of Halo installations' monitors, an overeagerness to activate the Halo Array. Monitors frequently cite protocols as explanations for their actions, no matter how impractical; this has been known to confuse or annoy human and Covenant forces who have interacted with them. It is possible that a Halo's monitor sees its protocols as the only options in a situation; during the Battle of Installation 04, 343 Guilty Spark could have taken numerous precautions to prevent the Flood from spreading across the installation, but the only action he ever considered was the activation of the Halo.[note 1] During the Battle of Line Installation 1-4, 686 Ebullient Prism frequently informed his human and Covenant prisoners that they would be killed and dissected in an effort to find immunity to the Flood, showing no concern for the subjects' well-being.[7] The monitors' adherence to protocol is also shown in their seemingly standardized method of introducing themselves: "Greetings. I am [Number] [Name]. I am the monitor of Installation [Number]."[8][9][10]

Similarly to a human "dumb" AI, monitors seem to have nearly limitless information of their own expertise, yet apparently lack information that does not pertain to their defined purpose. During the Battle of Installation 04, and later on Installation 04B, 343 Guilty Spark seemingly addressed SPARTAN John-117 as the Didact.[11][12]

Features

Monitors have a remarkable resistance to small arms fire, though they will eventually succumb after taking extensive damage. On Installation 04B, John-117 was able to destroy 343 Guilty Spark only with multiple discharges from a Spartan Laser, - a weapon that can destroy tanks with a single discharge - demonstrating that monitors can sustain damage from high-powered weaponry. During the Battle of Line Installation 1-4, Reff 'Talamee severely damaged 686 Ebullient Prism's photoreceptor and casing with a Sentinel's weapon; the monitor was eventually destroyed by its installation's main weapon.[7] Should a monitor be damaged, it is capable of self-repair.[13]

Though monitors are assisted by other constructs in the event of a Flood outbreak, the monitors also have their own offensive capabilities. Their primary armament is a red-colored pulse beam that capable of depleting the shields of a Mark VI MJOLNIR armor suit in a single blast, as well as mortally wounding a less well-armored human.[14] This weapon can also kill a Flood combat form almost instantaneously.[15]

Monitors also possess two types of utility beams. One of these beams allows a monitor to manipulate and levitate objects.[15] The second is a blue beam that can unlock doors Forerunner installations.[12]

Monitors have the ability to teleport themselves and others around their installations, likely through manipulation of slipstream space. It seems that a monitor on an installation other than its own has no access to that installation's teleportation grid. It is possible that these limits are programmatic rather than physical; after hacking into the Core of Installation 04, the UNSC AI Cortana gained the ability to access the teleportation grids of all installations, though her inability to access the power grids restricted her usage of the grid.[citation needed]

Known monitors and their assignments

Template:Monitors

Trivia

List of appearances

Notes

  1. ^ This behavior may also have been due to 343 Guilty Spark's rampancy. The monitor may have been oblivious to all possible options that did not follow protocol -- the Halo's activation may have been the only solution that ever even occurred to him -- and he might have been willfully ignoring other solutions.

Sources

  1. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page ???
  2. ^ a b c Halo: Cryptum, page 255-256
  3. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page ???
  4. ^ Halo 2, level Backwash
  5. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 297
  6. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved
  7. ^ a b c Halo: Blood Line
  8. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level, 343 Guilty Spark: "Greetings. I am the monitor of Installation 04. I am 343 Guilty Spark."
  9. ^ Halo 2, campaign level, Gravemind: "Greetings. I am 2401 Penitent Tangent. I am the monitor of Installation 05."
  10. ^ Halo: Blood Line: "Greetings. I am the monitor of Line Installation 1-4. I am 686 Ebullient Prism."
  11. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level Two Betrayals
  12. ^ a b Halo 3, campaign level The Ark
  13. ^ Halo: The Flood, page 238
  14. ^ Halo 3, campaign level, Halo
  15. ^ a b Halo 3, campaign level Floodgate
  16. ^ Halo.bungie.org: My writeup / tour of Waypoint. (NSF56k)

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